Helping Paws is a foster-based rescue run 100% by volunteers. We do not have a facility, so all pets are fostered in loving homes until they find their forever families! We deal in all breeds and ages of pets, but we do have a soft spot for medical cases.
Mission and Vision
Helping Paws is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, dedicated to improving the lives of animals, alleviating their suffering and elevating their status in society through rescue and rehabilitation. We also want to educate our community on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare. Advocating the value of all animal life, in hopes to end the neglect and abuse animals and help control the pet population through spay and neuter advocacy.
Adoption Policy
Potential adopters need to fill out an adoption application that needs to be approved by our adoption coordinator. We also require home visits to ensure the pets are going to be living in safe conditions. All current pets in the homes must be spayed/neutered and up to date on regular vetting - including vaccines and heartworm prevention (for dogs).
https://www.helpingpawsonline.com/adoptables-1
Testimonials
See all testimonials"I have adopted (2) and fostered for Helping Paws. I have also been a small part of the organization volunteering and really enjoyed working with them. Everyone there is committed to seeing the animals happy, healthy and in a safe loving home."
— leta p.
Adoptee, Volunteer / foster
"Helping Paws goes above and beyond to support no only the animals in its care, but the fosters who dedicate their time and energy to help animals in need. Helping Paws does not discriminate. They take all breeds, ages, sizes. Additionally, they take on a lot of medical cases who would normally be euthanized if not for them stepping in. Helping Paws also supports other rescues when they have excess supplies and is just trying to make an impact on the animal shelter crisis in the greater Indianapolis area. I am a former adopter, current foster, volunteer, and supporter of the rescue and I am thankful to be apart of a group of people who put so much effort into helping all of the paws that we can."
— sarah s.
Adoptee, Volunteer / foster, Supporter, Fan
"Where do I start to say how appreciated and wonderful the staff and fosters are at Helping paws INC.I adopted the best dog ever almost 5 yrs ago. They took the time to make sure we were a good fit and seriously wanting to add to our family. Since then I’ve stayed in contact with her foster mom & the rescue center. I now see all of them as my furever 🐾 extended family. They give so much of themselves to help & save all the furry friends in need. So glad I found them & my loving fur baby. Will definitely adopt from them again when the time is right to extend our family."
— kimberly g.
Adoptee, Supporter, Fan
"Easy to work with and provided lots of information through the process of adopting. Didn’t think I could find a small dog through a rescue but got my adorable little Fiona!"
— sandy f.
Adoptee
"I adopted Hans several years ago. The staff was kind very detailed, did a home check, meet and greet with family and pets and assisted with a medical condition Hans had until he was cleared. Caring group"
— beverly j.
Adoptee, Supporter, Fan
"We adopted one of our dogs from Helping Paws. It was a great experience.
Unfortunately our little guy was dumped at a local kill shelter in a box along with his siblings. All of them had Parvo. He and his siblings were pulled and cared for in a foster home through Helping Paws. Miraculously all the puppies survived and found homes. Because he was in a foster home he was well cared for and socialized. He was adopted then returned. We then adopted him at about 9 months old and it was a great experience. His transition to his forever home was good because he had been fostered and lived in home. We even got pictures and videos of him as a puppy in his foster home. When you rescue you do not get this many details or pictures and videos of the animal.
Rescues like Helping Paws save lives every day. Without their help to pull from high kill shelters, so many more animals would die. Currently there is a crisis with the number of animals that are being dumped in high kill shelters. Very few shelters are truly no kill! Helping Paws is creative in finding ways to fund raise and find generous people to volunteer in so many ways. We need more rescues where the animals are in foster homes."
— teressa b.
Adoptee
"Lee and her team are absolutely incredible!!!"
— rebecca z.
Adoptee
"Love Helping Paws They were very helpful in finding the right dog for me. Pleasant to work with. Pets are very well cared for and they will answer any question I tell everyone about them. All I can say is they are wonderful"
— a b.
Adoptee
"We have adopted from Helping Paws twice! We love them and their rescue. I appreciate that their application process includes references. Once they approve your application they do a home visit to make sure that the pet is a good fit with any other pets and see how they interact with the adopters. I have even checked back with them after our adoptions just to let them know how everything is going. We will support them as much as we can."
— tara h.
Adoptee
"Helping Paws pulls many medical cases from our local high intake city shelter. I have volunteered and adopted from this organization. They support any dog that they have adopted out and support adopters for the lifetime of the animal . They do all they can to help. They even helped me fubdraise for a surgery my dog needed well after adoption. Helping Paws is a Gem in the city of Indianapolis."
— melissa h.
Adoptee, Volunteer / foster
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David Adams is a man of many passions, but his love for dogs stands above all. He is not only a dog lover, but also the founder of an innovative platform called Sniffspot. This unique platform connects dog owners with private property owners who are willing to rent out their space for off-leash playtime. While the idea of Sniffspot was initially conceived by his wife, Rebecca, David has been the driving force behind its remarkable success, tirelessly overseeing its growth and development.
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